After a year off the courts, Rafael Nadal will be back in competition in late December at the Brisbane International presented by Evie. After an operation on his psoas muscle and a lingering hip issue, the 22-time Grand Slam champion set out on the long road to recovery with his sights set on a 2024 return, and the opportunity to bring an end to his legendary career while battling it out on a tennis court.

Having recently returned from Kuwait, where they practised for a few days with Arthur Fils, and before heading for Australia, Carlos Moyà, the Spaniard’s coach, sat down with ATPTour.com for an exclusive discussion about the most difficult time in the Mallorcan’s career.

Could you break down what has happened in the past few months, from Nadal’s decision to have an operation to the latest training sessions, with a mind to return to competition in Brisbane?
It’s what comes with an operation that requires complete rest. He had a more complicated operation than was first expected. Once they opened him up and saw what was there, it was more delicate than they had first thought. It’s not that he didn’t have tests and scans… but it seems that they didn’t have a good idea of the problem and the recovery period was longer than expected.

It’s also true that if he hadn’t had the operation, it would’ve been even more difficult for him to recover. He always knew he wanted to come back and that he wanted to say his goodbye on court.

After the operation… it was a month and a half of practically not seeing him, because he went on holiday. He was doing rehab as much as he could, given that he was on the boat in Greece. Then, at the end of August, we started to train, but very lightly. We would do two days a week, twenty minutes. It was a very slow progression. Sometimes we would take a step back, then go again… We were always very careful.

The start was very tough, of course. There were times when it looked difficult because he wasn’t getting better. We always had peace of mind because of the constant contact with the doctor, with tests, to reassure ourselves that the rate of progress was completely normal.

We gradually increased the load and the intensity, always with a very careful plan that we followed. Sometimes we would have to take a step back, rest a little, slow down. But it’s the entire process that comes with an injury of this severity, and you’re at the point of your career when you’re no longer 20 years old.

Little by little, we were able to progress, the issues were gradually solved and now he’s practically ready to go to Australia and give it a go.

Rafael Nadal” />
^{Photo Credit: Corinne Dubreuil}
Was there any point of the entire process when you thought he wouldn’t come back?
Yes. When you go through a process like this operation… at the end of the day, going under the knife is really a last resort, and I’m talking from experience, to try and make a comeback and retire on court. Aware of those risks, he gave it a go because it was the only option for him if he wanted to come back.

And when we started, and we’d been playing for a month and a half, or two, and we realised that progress was very slow… you don’t know if it’s slower than expectations because it’s the first time we’d been in a situation like that. But you do have your doubts, and in the player’s head there are also doubts: Will his body respond? Will it be able to take the loads? A lot of questions arise. It has not been a bed of roses, far from it. It’s been a winding, tortuous road, with many curves.

Besides the tennis work, what was your psychological role? I imagine there would have been a lot of days of talking, encouragement, being there to listen.
Both myself and the rest of the team. When I talk about myself, I talk about the whole team, aware that we are with a 37-year-old human being who has his life, his family, his interests, and his feelings. We’ve tried to support him, doing what we thought was right at each moment, looking out for his wellbeing and confidence.

Sometimes we had to press him a little, sometimes we had to take a step back. Depending on how we saw the situation from one day to the next, and above all his state of mind and motivation, sometimes one thing was required, while on other days it was the other.

In that regard, I think that he has a very understanding team. We’ve known him for many years and I think that aspect was very well taken care of.

It was a question of controlling the balance between pushing and letting go. We were aware that we had to be careful. It’s always easy to work with him because of the respect he has for all of us. I think that’s very important, but of course there were some very tough and difficult days.

Were they your most difficult times with him?
Without any doubt. There have been other difficult situations, but now you can tell the batteries are running low. A sportsman has an expiry date, and he is getting closer to it every day. You’re never aware of when that time is, very rarely. You just keep trying. And I think in that regard we’ve all had our doubts that it could come in Australia, he more so than anyone.

I had them for a certain part of the process, during certain stages. I had the feeling that it could be the end, that he’d have no chance to play again. It was the most difficult time I’ve had with him.

As we continue our review of the 2023 ATP Tour season, we look back at some of the biggest names who called time on their playing careers this year. Americans John Isner and Jack Sock lead Part 2 of this story, with Spaniards Feliciano Lopez and Pablo Andujar among those featured in Part 1 yesterday.

John Isner
Isner was the standard-bearer of American men’s tennis for much of his career. The No. 1 American in the year-end Pepperstone ATP Rankings for eight of nine years from 2012-20, Isner finished inside the year-end Top 20 for the entirety of the 2010s. 

The ATP Tour’s all-time aces leader hit 48 aces in his final singles match at the US Open. The former World No. 8 closed his career with 16 tour-level singles titles and 489 match wins.

“I think I’ve overachieved. I never imagined myself having this much success for this long,” said Isner, who turned pro in 2007 after winning the NCAA team title with the University of Georgia. “Of course, there’s so many matches I wish I could have back, but I prepared in my mind as best as I possibly could for 17 years. I don’t have many regrets, that’s for sure.” Read Isner Tribute

Jack Sock
A former Top 10 star in both singles and doubles, Sock reached a career-high Pepperstone ATP Ranking of No. 8 in 2017, a year in which he finished as the No. 1 American. The following season, he ascended to World No. 2 in doubles.

The American won four Grand Slam doubles titles (including one in mixed), and also won two Olympic medals at the 2016 Rio de Janiero Games: a mixed doubles gold medal with Bethanie Mattek-Sands and men’s doubles bronze with Steve Jonson. The biggest of his four career tour-level singles crowns came at the 2017 Rolex Paris Masters, a triumph that clinched his place at that season’s Nitto ATP Finals.

“To the 8-year-old boy who immediately fell in love with the sport of tennis. I hope I made you proud,” Sock wrote in an Instagram post announcing his retirement. “It’s been 14 years of memories I will never forget.” Read Sock Tribute

Jack Sock” />
Photo: Peter Staples/ATP Tour

Thomaz Bellucci
Brazil’s Bellucci wrapped up his playing days this year on home soil in Rio de Janeiro. The 35-year-old won four ATP Tour singles titles and 200 tour-level matches in his career, which began when he turned pro in 2005.

“I feel happy and a little bit sad too,” the former World No. 21 said of his retirement. “Tennis was in my life for many years. It’s not easy to stop playing. But I’ve enjoyed myself so much, and my body is now feeling the years and the sacrifices I’ve made. It’s time to do something else, experience new things.”

In a conversation with ATPTour.com, Bellucci recalled how he persevered after a knee injury nearly led him away from the game much earlier in his career. Read Bellucci Tribute

Jeremy Chardy
The 36-year-old Frenchman opened his abbreviated farewell season with an Australian Open win, before finishing his career with defeat to eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz at Wimbledon.

Chardy won his lone tour-level title in 2009 in Stuttgart and reached a career-high of No. 25 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings four years later in 2013. He also cracked the Top 25 of the Pepperstone ATP Doubles Rankings, winning seven ATP Tour doubles crowns.

“It’s something special,” Chardy said of his career after being honoured at the Nitto ATP Finals. “You work hard your whole life. When you were young, your dream was to become a tennis player, and from the moment you start to play on the ATP Tour, the time flies so fast.

“I enjoyed my journey so much and I have no regrets. I just finished and I’m already coaching, I’m still on Tour. It means I really love tennis!” Read More

Nitto ATP Finals 2023″ />
Chardy, second from right, was honoured alongside fellow recently retired stars at the 2023 Nitto ATP Finals. Photo: Julian Finney/Getty Images

Treat Huey
A Filipino born in Washington, D.C., Huey received an emotional sendoff at the ATP 500 in his home city. The eight-time tour-level doubles champion won his first ATP Tour title at the D.C. event in 2012.

“Growing up as a kid, I was like, ‘I’d love to be good enough to play this tournament one time,’ ” he reflected. “I ended up playing it a couple times, winning it once. So it was an absolute dream come true… It was amazing I played for 14, 15 years, so I had an amazing time.”

Huey claimed a personal-best three trophies in 2015 and hit a career-high Pepperstone ATP Doubles Ranking of No. 18 the following season. Read Huey Tribute

Bradley Klahn
An eight-time singles champion on the ATP Challenger Tour, Klahn played his final tournament at a Challenger in his home U.S. state of California. Some of the American’s fondest professional memories include playing on Centre Court at Wimbledon in 2018 and scoring a five-set win against Jurgen Melzer to secure his first major main-draw victory at the 2012 US Open in front of an electric home crowd.

“It never felt like a job to me to have to go and hit tennis balls and try to improve,” the former World No. 63 told ATPTour.com. “I’ve been very lucky for 11 years to play professionally. Not many people get to take their childhood passion and turn it into a professional thing. I am fortunate that I can say I did it.” Read Klahn Tribute

Oliver Marach
A six-time competitor at the Nitto ATP Finals, Marach was part of a prestigious group of recently retired players honoured at the 2023 season finale in Turin. The Austrian won 23 tour-level doubles titles and reached a career-high Pepperstone ATP Doubles Ranking of World No. 2.

“For me it’s very special,” he said of the recognition at the Nitto ATP Finals. “I have big emotions around this tournament… For me it has always been next to the Grand Slams as the biggest tournament in the world, I love to come here. They treat the players specially, and the best players get together in a final clash of the year. I always enjoyed the tournament and I’m happy to have my retirement here.” Read More

Read all stories in our Best Of 2023 review.

As we continue our review of the 2023 ATP Tour season, we look back at some of the biggest names who called time on their playing careers this year. Spaniards Feliciano Lopez and Pablo Andujar lead Part 1 of this story, with Americans John Isner and Jack Sock to feature in Part 2 tomorrow.

Feliciano Lopez
One of the longest careers in the history of the ATP Tour reached its conclusion when Lopez said goodbye to the circuit at age 41, after 26 seasons as a professional. The former World No. 12 played his final tournament on home soil at the Mallorca Championships.

“I feel very proud of having been able to make it through [more than] 20 years as a professional without missing one, but also of having left a good impression on my fellow players and on the people I have spent time with,” he said.

It was a fitting finale on the grass courts of Mallorca, with Lopez’s 87 tour-level wins on the surface the most of any Spaniard. He also enjoyed what he called his “best week” on the ATP Tour on grass, when he was crowned champion in both singles and doubles at the Cinch Championships at The Queen’s Club in 2019. The former World No. 12 ended 2002-20 in the Top 100 of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings. Read Lopez Tribute

Pablo Andujar
Andujar also closed his career on Spanish soil, bowing out at an ATP Challenger Tour event in Valencia in November. The four-time tour-level champion was sent off with an emotional tribute after retiring at the age of 37, with more than 400 tour-level matches under his belt.

The Spaniard peaked at No. 32 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings in 2015, after which he overcame three elbow operations to ultimately return to the Top 50 in 2019. He is now a Player Representative on the ATP Board of Directors.

“I used to watch all the tournaments as a boy and I always thought I could compete in them,” he said. “The fact that I was able to compete in them means my dream came true.” Read Andujar Tribute

Pablo Andujar” />
Photo: Copa Faulcombridge

Juan Sebastian Cabal/Robert Farah
Even retirement couldn’t separate these lifelong friends and longtime doubles partners. Cabal (37) and Farah (36) jointly announced their decision to retire in August, competing at the US Open and earning a farewell win for Colombia in Davis Cup before signing off.

“We feel like we’re doing the right thing. It’s a difficult moment,” said Cabal. “We’ve been playing this sport for 30 years, dreaming of life at the top. It’s hard to say goodbye, but everything comes to an end, and this is a good point, we feel it is a good moment. It’s not because of the results. It’s because of the time for each of us.”

Together, the duo won 19 tour-level titles, including two Grand Slam championships. They became the World No. 1 doubles team in 2019. Read Cabal/Farah Tribute.

Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah won 19 ATP Tour titles together.” />
Photo: James Chance/Getty Images

Peter Gojowczyk
Gojowczyk closed his 18-year career in Metz, where he won his lone tour-level title as a qualifier in 2017.

The 34-year-old German reached the Top 40 of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings in 2018, when he reached two tour-level finals and notched 23 wins. His biggest Grand Slam result was a fourth-round run as a qualifier at the 2021 US Open, where he pushed Carlos Alcaraz to a fifth set.

“My time as a tennis pro was filled with incredible moments, challenges, and unforgettable experiences — both on and off the court,” Gojowczyk told ATPTour.com. “I will cherish these memories forever.” Read Gojowczyk Tribute.

Guido Pella
Pella, a former Top 20 player, played his final tournament at the US Open — after which he  took his entire family on a holiday to Disneyland.

The 33-year-old Argentine’s biggest triumphs include winning the 2016 Davis Cup title with his country and the 2019 Sao Paulo singles crown. He reached four additional tour-level finals as well as the Wimbledon quarter-finals in 2019.

“It was an incredible journey, with so many amazing things that allowed me to experience moments that most people can’t and for that I’m eternally grateful,” he wrote on social media. Read Pella Tribute.

Guido Pella” />
Photo: Cordoba Open

Pedro Sousa
Portugal’s Sousa put a bow on his professional career at his home club, at an ATP Challenger Tour event in Lisbon. The 35-year-old won eight Challenger crowns in his career and is one of four Portuguese men to crack the Top 100 of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings in the past decade.

“I’m happy and proud of my career and have no regrets,” he said. “Most people don’t know the struggles we go through; it’s a very tough career. I’ve made some mistakes of course, but I’m happy with my achievements.” Read Sousa Tribute.

Malek Jaziri
Jaziri’s career-high Pepperstone ATP Ranking of No. 42 is the highest ranking ever achieved by a Tunisian. His final match came an an ATP Challenger Tour event in his home nation in May, bringing an end to a 20-year career that included more than 100 tour-level wins.

“This is the end of a career as a tennis player and hopefully we have a good career and success in life after tennis as well,” he said after being honoured at the Nitto ATP Finals. “Tennis gave me a lot of opportunities and I’m very glad to be part of the ATP family.” Read More.

Read all stories in our Best Of 2023 review.

Throughout 196 ATP Challenger Tour events held worldwide in 2023, fans had the opportunity to discover young superstars, witness the comeback of experienced tour veterans and see historic runs before their eyes. ATPTour.com highlights five player storylines from the ATP Challenger Tour season.

Teenager Mensik Makes History
At 17 years, eight months, Jakub Mensik won the Prague Challenger to become the youngest Czech Challenger champion in history. In just his sixth Challenger outing, the teen completed a dream week, saving two match points in the quarter-finals two days before lifting the trophy.

The 2022 Australian Open boys’ singles finalist joined elite company, becoming one of five 17-year-old Challenger titlists in the past five years, alongside Jannik Sinner (2019), Carlos Alcaraz (2020), Shang Juncheng (2022). The only previous 17-year-old Czech champion was former World No. 4 Tomas Berdych, who captured two Challenger titles in 2003.

“I knew I could play with those guys, but I didn’t have the experience. After a few tournaments, I really started to trust myself and play my best game,” Mensik told ATPTour.com in June. “In Prague, that tournament I felt very special on court. From the start, I beat the top seed [Radu Albot] and after that match, I was like, ‘Let’s continue’. Match by match, I felt more comfortable on the court. Then in a few days I became a champion. I felt very special and it was a very good experience for me. After losing in first rounds and qualifying rounds, I think it was faster than I expected.”

Comeback Kei
Despite a 20-month absence from the tour, Kei Nishikori did not miss a beat. The 33-year-old was crowned champion at the ATP Challenger Tour 75 event in Palmas del Mar, Puerto Rico, his first tournament since the BNP Paribas Open in October 2021.

The former World No. 4, who underwent arthroscopic left hip surgery last year, dropped just one set en route to the title and became the first unranked Challenger champion. Nishikori was in vintage form throughout the hard-court event, displaying all-court coverage and clean ball-striking to earn his first trophy at any level since 2018.

“That was surprising a lot. I was just expecting to just play one match and just kind of get a rhythm for it,” Nishikori said. “Somehow I played good in the first match and started getting more confident every match. In the final, I think I played pretty good tennis.”

Jordan’s First Challenger Champion
Abdullah Shelbayh became the first player from Jordan to win an ATP Challenger Tour title in October when he won the LTP Challenger in Charleston, South Carolina. The-then 18-year-old is the youngest player from an Arab country to win a title at that level.

The lefty, who graduated from the Rafa Nadal Academy in 2021, was a wild card into the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by NEOM.

“It’s something special for me to represent Jordan at such tournaments at a high level. Being able to win such a great event is such a big title for me, the biggest of my career so far,” Shelbayh said after winning in Charleston.

Purcell’s Indian Hat-trick
Australian Max Purcell went on a three-week trip to India in February with two things in mind: winning ATP Challenger Tour matches and spending less time on his cell phone.

The 24-year-old then went on a 15-match winning streak, triumphing at the Chennai, Bengaluru, and Pune Challengers. While he was enjoying a hot streak that helped him make his Top 100 debut, his phone was left cold in the hotel room.

“I made the choice to stop with distractions off court,” Purcell said. “Especially through India, I wanted to be off my phone as much as I could. I wanted to make sure I was getting as much quiet time as I could and just make sure going into my matches that I didn’t bring anything else on the court.”

The Sydney native is the only Australian to claim three consecutive Challenger titles.

De Loore Rebuilds Body, Wins Maiden Challenger Title
Belgian Joris De Loore has battled through a plethora of injuries, which forced him to hang up his racquets for two years (2019-2020). Throughout a seven-year span, the 30-year-old underwent seven surgeries on six different body parts. But De Loore never threw in the towel.

In his first tournament of 2023, De Loore advanced through qualifying at the Oeiras-1 Challenger and went on to capture the trophy. He finished the year with three additional final appearances.

“I want to prove that I’m able to reach the Top 100,” said De Loore, who is at No. 145 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings. “I still feel capable of it, doesn’t mean I’m going to make it for sure, but I still have the game to do it.”

In October, Hurricane Otis caused devastating damage in Acapulco, including to the venue of the city’s ATP 500 event, the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC. But tournament organisers confirmed Thursday that the 2024 edition of the tournament will proceed in Acapulco.

“With great enthusiasm and optimism, we are pleased to announce that the Telcel Mexican Open presented by HSBC will take place in Acapulco, from February 24 to March 2, 2024,” tournament organisers wrote. “This event marks a significant milestone in the reconstruction and revitalisation of this emblematic city. By holding the tournament in Acapulco, we not only promote tennis, but we also generate a positive impact on the local economy and the community, providing vitality to sectors such as tourism, transportation, gastronomy and hospitality, including job creation in the region. 

“With this celebration, we reaffirm to the world that Acapulco is open and standing.”

Organisers made clear in their announcement that the tournament does not just celebrate tennis, but a wider camaraderie among Mexicans, who are rebuilding from the damage caused by the hurricane.

Tournament Director Álvaro Falla said: “We express our recognition and gratitude to the great work and support of the people of Guerrero, to the public that has purchased tickets, to all our sponsors for their continued support, and to tennis led by the ATP.”  

You never know what you will see from the world’s best tennis players. The next point you watch could feature one of the most incredible shots of the season.

With a lengthy list to choose from, ATPTour.com compiled the 10 best hot shots from 2023. From tweeners to no-look winners and more, perhaps the highlight reel of superb shotmaking will inspire you to try these at home.

Two players were featured twice. Any guesses on who?

One incredible point came during an ATP Masters 1000 semi-final, earning ‘ooh’s’ and ‘ahh’s’ from the crowd before concluding with a standing ovation.

What was the number one hot shot? Watch the full video below to see the shot so good it even had the player’s opponent laughing.

Arthur Fils’ triumph at the Oeiras Challenger in January was an early sign of what was to come on the ATP Challenger Tour in 2023: Frenchmen building off their countrymen’s success as they win Challenger titles.

Despite Fils competing in his first Challenger final in Oeiras, the teen held his nerve, lifting the trophy within 24 hours of Arthur Cazaux winning the Nonthaburi Challenger and Richard Gasquet claiming the ATP 250 in Auckland.

“I saw that overnight Arthur Cazaux did it, I saw that Richard Gasquet did it. I said, ‘Okay you have to win this one!’” Fils said after triumphing in Oeiras.

Players from France collected 27 Challenger titles this year, marking the most titles by a single country in a season. 

Constant Lestienne’s trio of Challenger titles led the way for France, which had 19 players triumph at that level in 2023. The 31-year-old went on a late-season surge earning titles in Stanford, Saint-Tropez and Alicante. Lestienne’s triumph in Alicante steered France clear of Argentina’s then-record 23 Challenger titles, which was set last year.

Constant Lestienne wins the Challenger 125 event in Stanford, California.” />
^{Constant Lestienne was the lone Frenchman to earn three Challenger titles in 2023. Credit: Lani-Rae Green}
In southwest France, more history was made in March when #NextGenATP star Luca Van Assche saved two championship points against countryman Ugo Humbert to win the Pau Challenger. Van Assche and Humbert battled for three hours, 56 minutes, marking the longest Challenger final in history.

“It was a crazy match, an amazing fight,” Van Assche said. “I’m very happy. A lot of emotions during this match. I was leading, then losing. I was match point up, then match point down. It was a fantastic match with great support from the crowd.”

The following week, Benoit Paire captured his first title at any level since 2019 when he won the Puerto Vallarta Challenger. Paire returned to the winners’ circle in July, overcoming Gasquet in the San Benedetto Del Tronto Challenger final.

Humbert’s standout season included two consecutive Challenger 175 titles. In Cagliari, Italy, the 25-year-old saved three match points against Taro Daniel in a four-hour, 13-minute quarter-final marathon en route to his first clay-court title.

“I will never forget this trophy because I hate clay normally, never won more than two matches in a row on clay,” Humbert said in his post-tournament press conference. “It feels unbelievable to have the trophy.”

The lefty then captured the BNP Paribas Primrose in Bordeaux, marking his return to the Top 40 for the first time since 31 January, 2022. Humbert finished the season at a career-high No. 20.

Five #NextGenATP Frenchmen were among those to add to their home country’s record-breaking season: Atmane, Cazaux, Fils, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard and Van Assche. Arthur Weber became the oldest player to win a title in his Challenger debut in Zhuhai (31 years, eight months).

List Of French Challenger Champions In 2023
Constant Lestienne (Stanford, Saint-Tropez, Alicante)
Luca Van Assche (Pau, Sanremo)
Benoit Paire (Puerto Vallarta, San Benedetto Del Tronto)
Ugo Humbert (Cagliari, Bordeaux)
Hugo Grenier (Las Franquesas Del Valles, Pozoblanco)
Hugo Gaston (Iasi, Trieste)
Terence Atmane (Zhangjiagang, Guangzhou)
Arthur Cazaux (Nonthaburi)
Arthur Fils (Oeiras)
Gregoire Barrere (Quimper)
Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard (León)
Alexandre Muller (Montechiarugolo)
Quentin Halys (Blois)
Manuel Guinard (Troyes)
Arthur Rinderknech (Zug)
Arthur Weber (Zhuhai)
Ugo Blanchet (Malaga)
Kyrian Jacquet (Olbia)
Corentin Moutet (Helsinki)

The ‘Mextenis León Open’, in León, Mexico, has been awarded 2023 Tournament of the Year on the ATP Challenger Tour.

This year, a comprehensive rating system was established on the Challenger circuit, giving players the opportunity to evaluate and grade each tournament they compete in, based on various criteria. After a successful inaugural edition, the Mextenis León Open received the highest rating of all 196 Challenger tournaments. Located in the heart of Mexico, it is the fourth award winner from the country since 2015.

“Our commitment with the players, ATP, fans and sponsors will be always our priority,” tournament director Jose Antonio Fernandez said. “We will keep working harder than ever to deliver this kind of experience to our players.”

This year’s León Challenger, held in April, was won by the-then 19-year-old Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, who captured his maiden title at that level in front of a packed crowd. The 6’8″ Frenchman struck 21 aces in the final and played five tie-breaks across his semi-final and title match in Mexico.

The ATP Challenger Tour also recognises the Vitas Gerulaitis Cup in Vilnius, Lithuania, as the top tournament in the Europe/Africa region. The European nation celebrated its debut on the circuit just one year ago, becoming the 91st different country to host a Challenger tournament.

“It is amazing news to find our tournament being acknowledged in such a high level. This recognition is so important for Lithuanian tennis,” assistant tournament director Virginija Paliukaite said. “We worked for so many years just to have an opportunity to organize an ATP Challenger tournament in our country and we came out strongly. This is a proof that we have strong, motivated and competent people and our infrastructure is perfect for such and even higher level tournaments.

“I want to thank the players, our team, volunteers and sponsors. None of this would have happened in the way it did without their contribution. Hopefully, with such a strong debut and inspiration to move and improve forward, Vilnius will stay in the international map of tennis and host more such and better tournaments in the future.”

In South America, the event in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, earned top honours. The Challenger Bolivia also made its second appearance on the calendar in 2023.

“It is a great surprise to have received this award and it fills us with satisfaction to know that the players have selected us as the best ATP Challenger Tour event in South America in 2023,” tournament director Carolina Poehlmann said. “We remain firm in our commitment to continue supporting the growth of tennis in Bolivia and we will try to improve to give the best possible conditions to our international competitors.”

In the Asia-Pacific region, the tournament in Shanghai made its mark in China’s long-awaited return to the Challenger Tour. It is held at the Qizhong Tennis Center, the same site as the Rolex Shanghai Masters.

“We are extremely appreciative and honoured to be named best tournament on the Challenger Tour for 2023 in the Asia/Pacific Region,” tournament director Michael Luevano said. “To be back on the tour after four years took a lot of hard work from a team that relished the opportunity to produce a first-rate event. There was a lot of pride that went into creating, promoting and staging the Road to the Rolex Shanghai Masters Challenger and to receive the support of the players in this way is very gratifying.”

Richard Glover, VP Challenger Tour added: “The Challenger Tour has made great strides in 2023, with elevated tournament standards and unprecedented growth across all categories. I would like to congratulate and commend the Mextenis León Open on exemplifying this progress and our tournaments in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Shanghai and Vilnius, for setting the standard in their respective regions. This award greatly reflects their passion, professionalism and commitment to the players and the Tour.”

Stronger pathway, stronger sport. Elevating the Challenger Tour is core to the #OneVision mission! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/AMtaP5Ya2k

— ATP Tour (@atptour) December 11, 2023

Novak Djokovic was recognised for his record-extending eighth ATP No. 1 presented by Pepperstone honour and Jannik Sinner figured in three categories in the 2023 ATP Awards.

Sinner was named Most Improved Player of the Year and received the Fans’ Favourite Award, capping a breakout season in which the 22-year-old claimed his maiden ATP Masters 1000 title in Toronto, reached the trophy match at the Nitto ATP Finals, and led Italy to its first Davis Cup title in nearly five decades. Additionally, Sinner’s mentors, Darren Cahill and Simone Vagnozzi, shared the Coach of the Year award as voted by their contemporaries. Their charge reached a career-high No. 4 in 2023, matching legend Adriano Panatta as the highest-ranked Italian in Pepperstone ATP Rankings history.

Visit the official ATP Awards section

Longtime friends and ATP Masters 1000 Madrid winners Karen Khachanov and Andrey Rublev took home the Fans’ Favourite Award in the doubles category.

The 2023 ATP Awards also honours Djokovic and the tandem of Ivan Dodig and Austin Krajicek, who clinched year-end No. 1 during the Nitto ATP Finals. Djokovic won a tour-best seven singles titles on the year, including the 24th Grand Slam of his career. Dodig and Krajicek accounted for five doubles titles, their biggest coming on clay at Roland-Garros.     

Jan-Lennard Struff was named Comeback Player of the Year after overcoming injury to jump from No. 167 to a career-high No. 21, while 19-year-old Arthur Fils, a first-time ATP Tour titlist in Lyon and the youngest member of the year-end Top 50, is the Newcomer of the Year.

A year after becoming the youngest No. 1 in the history of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, Carlos Alcaraz was selected by his fellow players as the winner of the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award, which recognises fair play, professionalism and integrity on and off the court. He is the fourth Spaniard to receive the honour, joining Jose Higueras (1983), Alex Corretja (1996, 1998) and Rafael Nadal (2010, 2018-21).

Higueras, who worked with legends like Pete Sampras, Jim Courier, Roger Federer and Michael Chang, and later served as director of player development for the United States Tennis Association (USTA), is the recipient of the Tim Gullikson Career Coach Award. 

Felix Auger-Aliassime received the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award in recognition of his efforts to support educational initiatives in his father’s homeland, the West African nation of Togo. The 23-year-old Canadian partnered with BNP Paribas in 2020 to create the #FAAPointsForChange programme and since, $20 for has been donated to EduChange for every point he has won.

The BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells (ATP Masters 1000), the cinch Championships at The Queen’s Club in London (ATP 500), the Nordea Open in Bastad (ATP 250) and the Mextenis León Open (ATP Challenger Tour) have been voted by the players as Tournament of the Year in their respective categories. Meanwhile, L’Équipe is the recipient of the Ron Bookman Media Excellence Award.

2023 ATP Awards Winners

ATP No. 1 presented by Pepperstone
(determined by Pepperstone ATP Rankings)
Novak Djokovic: Djokovic finished as the oldest year-end No. 1 in Pepperstone ATP Rankings history, his record eighth year atop the charts. For the fourth time in his career, he claimed three of the season’s four major titles, only Carlos Alcaraz keeping him from the Grand Slam — winning all four majors in the same season — with a comeback in the Wimbledon final. Djokovic’s 24th major singles title came at the US Open, a number unequalled in the Open Era. The 36-year-old Serbian also triumphed in Cincinnati and Paris, to bring his ATP Masters 1000 title haul to a record 40 at that level, and clinched a record seventh Nitto ATP Finals title.

ATP Doubles No. 1 presented by Pepperstone
(determined by Pepperstone ATP Rankings)
Ivan Dodig & Austin Krajicek: The Croatian-American duo, which launched its partnership last year, earned ATP Doubles No. 1 presented by Pepperstone honours for the first time. Dodig and Krajicek teamed to win five tournaments in 2023, including Roland Garros, the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters and ATP 500-level events in Rotterdam, London (Queen’s Club) and Beijing. Finishing with a 39-15 record, they also reached finals in Miami, Adelaide and Eastbourne, and advanced to the semi-finals of the US Open. 

Comeback Player of the Year

(voted by ATP players)
Jan-Lennard Struff: The German started the season outside the Top 150, but soared after standout ATP Masters 1000 results. He reached the quarter-finals in Monte-Carlo before he became the first lucky loser in history to reach a Masters 1000 final at the Mutua Madrid Open. A run to the title match in Stuttgart followed in June, before a hip injury forced the 33-year-old to miss three months of the season, with Struff not holding a racquet for seven weeks. He made a winning return in Zhuhai in September before he advanced to his third tour-level semi-final of the season in Sofia in November. He ended the year at No. 25. Dominik Koepfer, Gael Monfils and Alexander Zverev were also nominated in this category.  

Most Improved Player of the Year

(voted by ATP players)
Fans’ Favourite Award (Singles)

(voted by fans)
Jannik Sinner: The 22-year-old Italian won four tour-level titles in 2023, including his first ATP Masters 1000 crown in Toronto. He also reached the title match at the Nitto ATP Finals, his first major semi-final at Wimbledon, and led Italy to its first Davis Cup trophy since 1976. Sinner, who held a 64-15 tour-level record in 2023, finished the season at a career-high No. 4 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, becoming the first Italian man to end a season in the Top 5. Sinner won Newcomer of the Year in the 2019 ATP Awards. Matteo Arnaldi, Christopher Eubanks and Ben Shelton were also nominated for Most Improved Player of the Year.

Newcomer of the Year

(voted by ATP players)
Arthur Fils: The Frenchman started the season outside the Top 250 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, but peaked at a career-high No. 36 in October after reaching the final in Antwerp. The 19-year-old was the youngest champion on the ATP Tour in 2023, winning his first tour-level title in Lyon in May. He made the most of opportunities to play at home, also advancing to the tour-level semi-finals in Montpellier and Marseille. Fils finished the season by reaching the title match at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by NEOM. #NextGenATP players Flavio Cobolli, Alex Michelsen, Dominic Stricker and Luca Van Assche were also nominees for Newcomer of the Year.

Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award

(voted by ATP players)
Carlos Alcaraz: The Spaniard has been recognised by fellow players for his fair play, professionalism and integrity on and off the court. Whether sending get-well-soon messages to injured opponents or sharing his umbrella with ballkids during a prolonged rain delay, the two-time major singles titlist has fast gained a reputation as one of the tour’s classiest players. When Fabio Fognini crashed to the court earlier this year in Rio de Janeiro, Alcaraz famously crossed the net and, much to the delight of the fans, helped return his foe to his feet. The 20-year-old has now won three player-voted ATP Awards, receiving Newcomer of the Year in 2020 and Most Improved in 2022. Grigor Dimitrov, Hubert Hurkacz and Jannik Sinner were also nominated in this category.

Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award

(awarded by ATP)
Felix Auger-Aliassime: Joining names like John McEnroe, Andre Agassi and Roger Federer, the Canadian was recognised for his efforts beyond the tennis court. By partnering with BNP Paribas to create the #FAAPointsForChange programme, Auger-Aliassime has been able to spark educational initiatives in his father Sam’s homeland of Togo. This year, the 23-year-old also became the spokesperson for the Grow Beyond Campaign of the Montreal-based CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation, the charitable arm of the hospital where he was born.

Fans’ Favourite Award (Doubles)

(voted by fans)
Karen Khachanov & Andrey Rublev: The longtime friends joined forces to capture their first team title at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Madrid, where they earned Match Tie-break wins in four of their five matches en route to the trophy. Khachanov and Rublev also reached the semi-finals at the ATP 500 event in Beijing.

Coach of the Year

(voted by ATP coaches)
Darren Cahill & Simone Vagnozzi: The Australian and Italian helped guide Jannik Sinner to a career-best season. Vagnozzi has worked with Sinner since February 2022, while Cahill joined the team in June 2022 with a focus on developing Sinner’s mental side. The results have been immediate: Sinner reached three Masters 1000 quarter-finals and a like number of major quarter-finals that first year, then broke through to his first Masters 1000 title (Toronto) and major semi-final (Wimbledon) in 2023. Cahill and Vagnozzi were nominated for Coach of the Year honours along with Craig Boynton (Hubert Hurkacz), 2022 winner Juan Carlos Ferrero (Carlos Alcaraz), Goran Ivanisevic (Novak Djokovic) and Bryan Shelton (Ben Shelton).

Tim Gullikson Career Coach Award

(voted by ATP coaches)
Jose Higueras: A former World No. 6 who made his name in the coaching ranks tutoring the likes of future Hall of Famers Pete Sampras, Jim Courier, Roger Federer, Michael Chang, Jennifer Capriati and Mary Joe Fernandez, the Spaniard exemplifies excellence, leadership, respect, and a true love for the art of coaching. Named for the late Tim Gullikson, the award showcases someone who has inspired generations of young players and fellow coaches to grow the sport.

ATP Masters 1000 Tournament of the Year

(voted by ATP players) 
BNP Paribas Open (Indian Wells): The BNP Paribas Open won in the ATP Masters 1000 category for a record-extending ninth time — all in succession. Held amidst the natural beauty and backdrop of the desert landscape, the Indian Wells Tennis Garden offers top-notch player facilities and amenities; plentiful practice courts that allow fans to watch players up close; and unparalleled dining options.

ATP 500 Tournament of the Year

(voted by ATP players) 
cinch Championships (London): The cinch Championships at The Queen’s Club claimed honours at the ATP 500 level, winning for the fifth time. Also recognised in the ATP Awards in 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2022, the tournament has thrived in its prestigious setting in West Kensington by consistently attracting some of the best singles and doubles players on the ATP Tour.

ATP 250 Tournament of the Year

(voted by ATP players) 
Nordea Open (Bastad): The Nordea Open won in the ATP 250 category for the 12th time overall. It was named Tournament of the Year from 2002-12, sharing honours with Houston two of those years (2003-04). The Nordea Open celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2023. 

ATP Challenger Tournament of the Year

(voted by ATP players) 
Mextenis León Open (León): In 2023, a comprehensive rating system was established on the ATP Challenger Tour circuit, giving players the opportunity to evaluate and grade each tournament they compete in, based on various criteria. After a successful inaugural edition, the Mextenis León Open received the highest rating of all 196 Challenger tournaments. Located in the heart of Mexico, it is the fourth award winner from the country since 2015.

Ron Bookman Media Excellence Award

(awarded by ATP)
L’Équipe: The French media outlet receives the Ron Bookman Media Excellence Award for the third time, also winning this honour in 1999 and 2010. Recognised for excellent coverage of tennis on all their platforms (newspaper, magazine, digital, TV), L’Équipe prides themselves in being present on the Tour all year round, boasting a list of writers whose sole focus is tennis reporting: Lucile Alard, Vincent Cognet, Bertrand Lagacherie, Romain Lefebvre, David Loriot, Quentin Moynet, Franck Ramella and Julien Reboullet. Journalists Anne-Sophie Bourdet and Bruno Garay also play a key role for the magazine.

The BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, the cinch Championships at the Queen’s Club in London and the Nordea Open in Bastad continue to set the standard on the ATP Tour, winning Tournament of the Year honours in their respective categories in the 2023 ATP Awards.

For the ninth consecutive year, Indian Wells has been named the ATP Masters 1000 Tournament of the Year. Held amidst the natural beauty and backdrop of the desert landscape, the Indian Wells Tennis Garden offers top-notch player facilities and amenities; plentiful practice courts that allow fans to watch players up close; and unparalleled dining options.

“We’re honored to see the ATP players once again vote Indian Wells as their favourite 1000-level stop of the year,” said BNP Paribas Open Tournament Director Tommy Haas. “This award reflects the dedicated support from all of our wonderful tournament staff, volunteers, fans and so many others who bring the BNP Paribas Open to life every year and contribute to the sustained success of our one-of-a-kind event.”

Carlos Alcaraz claimed the third Masters 1000 title of his young career at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in March, and Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden teamed to take the doubles crown.

 

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Like the BNP Paribas Open, the cinch Championships is a repeat winner, having also been recognised in 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2022. Alcaraz claimed the singles title at this year’s Queen’s Club-hosted event, with the duo of Ivan Dodig and Austin Krajicek taking the doubles.

“We’re absolutely delighted to have been voted ATP 500 Tournament of the Year by the players again this year,” said Chris Pollard, the tournament’s Digital, Technology and Events Director. “The LTA takes great pride in continuously improving the experience of the players who take part in the tournament, and this award is recognition of the hard work of the LTA event team and the collaborative way in which they work with The Queen’s Club, the ATP and a number of other sponsors and suppliers to deliver a world-class event.”

 

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Celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2023, the Nordea Open was voted ATP 250 Tournament of the Year for 11 consecutive years between 2002 and 2012. The 2023 singles and doubles titles went to Andrey Rublev and Gonzalo Escobar/Aleksandr Nedovyesov, respectively.

“The whole team and all volunteers are, of course, extremely happy and proud to receive this award,” said Christer Hult, CEO and Managing Director of the Nordea Open. “Our ambition is to provide all players with the highest quality of service both on and off the court regardless of their ranking. We want all players to be treated as they are No. 1. This award is a proof that it has been appreciated by all the players who played the Nordea Open this year and I’d like to thank all the players for their appreciation and welcome everyone back to Båstad 2024.”

 

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On the ATP Challenger Tour, the Mextenis León Open was selected by players as Tournament of the Year.